A Question for Lieberman
Uploaded by spazeboy

Update: Finally got YouTube working for the video. Uploaded to DailyMotion 2/22/2007

Ten minutes before the debate wrapped up, I left the media room to stand outside the closed (and guarded) doors to the banquet hall that the debate was being held in. I’d been watching on CCTV, and I thought that Senator Lieberman was going to answer questions from reporters afterwards, so I was in position with my camera ready to roll.

The doors were opened, and I stepped inside. Everyone was going the other way, out the doors and to their cars. Senator Lieberman was still on the stage, but I saw him slither out a back door next to the stage. I took an imaginary swig of my imaginary blogger juice and bolted for that door, expecting to catch Senator Lieberman. I figured he must have been lost, because I’ve never seen him go in the opposite direction of news cameras (there were several in the room).

When I made it through the door, I had a choice: left or right. Which way would Senator Lieberman go?

So I went right. And I was wrong.

I head back to the press room on the second floor, and was informed that Senator Lieberman was upstairs.

One flight up, I spot someone “official looking” coming out the door into the stairwell, so I head on through. I make it no further than the doorjamb when to my surprise and delight, I see Senator Lieberman headed my way!

I’m not a professional journalist. I don’t even pretend to be one on this blog. Nevertheless, here’s the question I asked:
“Would you unequivocally caucus with the Democrats?”

To which Joe replied:
“Oh, come on. I’ve said that 1200 times.”

“It’s yes or no, Senator Lieberman”

“Yes. Yes!”

Senator Lieberman and I were both caught off guard here, but that’s no reason to be so pompous and dismissive. He may have answered it 1200 times, but at that point, what difference will it make that I’ve asked him for the 1201st time? Nevermind that I look up the news reports on Lamont and Lieberman every single day, and have yet to see this question asked and answered by Joe Lieberman. He’s never answered it unequivocally.

There are a couple of circumstances that lead me to believe that Senator Lieberman would not unequivocally caucus with the Democrats if elected on his own party line, which is why I asked.

I was tempted to cut Senator Lieberman some slack, because this was minutes after the debate and he was probably still reeling from having his ass handed to him. But he’s a big boy who’s been in the Senate for 18 years and doesn’t need my sympathy. Plus, it was just a short walk to the nearest Joe-Friendly media person. If I lost an election, and then I lost a debate, I’d be pretty unhappy too.

So, Senator Lieberman, excuse the heck out of me for asking you a question, but I can’t promise it won’t happen again.